Results…!!!

"Good morning baby" wished Varun as he brushed the curls on punya's face sitting on the side of her bed. She was sleeping peacefully. She just changed her position. "Medicines have made her sleep a bit longer" said Narmada who was standing next to her bed. "Let her sleep for some more time… don't tell her about results coming out today afternoon. I'll check it myself" said Varun and kissed Punya on forehead. "Ok" answered Narmada.

After a while, Punya woke up as her mobile was vibrating. "Hello" she answered in a lazy tone.

"Hello, Punya…. results are out at 1pm… Do you know which site we have to check?" It took a couple of minutes for her to catch Ramya's words…

"Rams wait relax… What are you blabbering? Why are you always on express train?" she asked in anxiety.

"Ok, listen… today our results will be out on net by 1 pm… I saw it in the news. Do you know about this?" Ramya asked.

"No, I don't know… I'm still in bed…wait let me check with mom. I'll text you the link if she has noted down… Is that Ok?" she replied.

"Yeah please do it fast…Bye" said Ramya who hung up even before Punya wished a Bye.

Rams is always in hurry smiled Punya as she went downstairs in search of her mom.

"Mom, my results are out on net by 1pm it seems, did you see that news on TV this morning? Have you noted down the link to check it?" Punya asked as she approached Narmada who was busy in kitchen preparing lunch.

"Yes baby, I have marked it on the newspaper… Wait who told you this?" asked Narmada.

"Rams had just called" replied Punya as she went in search of newspaper.

"First fresh up and eat something it's 12 dear" said Narmada in high tone.

"Good Afternoon dear" said Eshwar who was reading the paper resting on his easy chair.

"Good Afternoon Ajja, can I have the newspaper for a minute?" Punya asked.

"Of course baby, take…" said grandpa as he handed over the paper.

"How's your hand baby?" asked Gowri tying jasmine garland.

"It's totally fine, Ajji. Doctor told he'll remove this crepe today evening" answered Punya as she noted something on her phone from newspaper. Family doctor had taken care of Punya's sprain from last one week, it had healed properly.

"Punya go fresh up, I'll prepare dosas for you" said Narmada from behind.

"Why dosas, let her have lunch with us directly… you finish cooking… I'll help her take bath" said Gowri. Either granny or mom had to help Punya to take bath and do her personal things as doctor had advised not to strain the wrist much. Helping her eat dinner at night was Varun's duty. He had ordered everyone to take care of his darling daughter with extra care.

"Come baby, take bath" called Gowri. "Ok Ajji" said Punya as she had sent link to Ramya.

Trin..... Trin..... Trin..... rang the landline. Narmada received the call "Hello, Yes"

"Hello Nammu, did you see the results?" asked Varun in excitement.

"Yes just now, she has scored 86%... it's disctinction but her maths score is only 75....all others have crossed 85" answered Narmada.

"It's Ok we know she's not that good in Maths, don't scold her for that now.... Ok hand over the phone to her…" said Varun.

"I won't scold your darling daughter..." smirked Narmada "Punya, Dad's over the phone…"

"Hello… Dad I'm sorry about Maths… Hello hello Dad you there??"

"Congratulations my little princess" said Varun as he approached Punya from behind.

"Dad you home so early…" "Yes, shouldn't I celebrate my princess's first victory? said Varun as he held her hands and swirled her around…

"Hey careful, her wrist is not strong enough" warned Gowri.

"Oh… Oh Sorry dear, I forgot… Did I hurt you again??"

"No Dad, I'm fine"

"Here you go, open your mouth" he said as he opened the sweet box and offered a piece of mysore pak.

"Thanks Dad" replied Punya after swallowing the sweet.

"Nammu, take… you also have put efforts into her results… say ahh"

"Am I a kid, give I'll eat" said Narmada in false anger taking the sweet from her husband's hands.

"You have scored 99 in Science, 115 in Sanskrit, Wow… I'm impressed. Tell me what do you want as reward, my princess?" asked Varun as he distributed sweets to Eshwar and Gowri.

"Bicycle?... Can I get Bicycle?" asked Punya in hesitation.

"Yeah, you can get her a cycle, it's good from fitness point of view also" added Eshwar.

"You intend to go by cycle to college?" asked Varun.

"Yes, I also want to join college in Mangalore, not here in Kadri. Please…" she insisted in a pleading tone.

"Ok, let me make arrangements" he said as he got up to leave.

"Varun, are you going to office again?" asked Narmada.

"Yes sweetheart…" he answered as he approached her and put his arms around her waist "If you promise to keep me entertained, I'll stay back" he whispered in her ears.

She pushed him away saying "Bye, you carry on… your factory people will mock the work in your absence"

Varun had his own factory in Mangalore which was into manufacturing of building materials and ceramics. It was started by Eshwar's Dad and inherited by Varun after his civil engineering who had expanded the business over 20 years providing employment for 2000+ employees. Eshwar used to provide back end support after his retirement from Military. Income from the factory and few rented sheds in factory premises had given this family an affluent status. Narmada was working as science teacher in nearby high school, only to follow her passion of teaching. Grandparents used to take care of kids in her absence and they also had a maid for other household chores.